Banjo stand



April 9, 1929. v. s. TRUETT ET AL 1,708,285

BANJO STAND Filed June 6, 1927 VEZMA s. 7-2057-7- HARRY H. GEORGE Patented Apr. 9,1929.

I UNITED STATES 1,708,285 PATENT- OFFICE,

vnmvm s. rnun r r AND HARRY'H. GEORGE, or SAN rnanerseo, cnmronn'ra.

BANJO Application filed June 6,

Our invention relates to supports, and particularly to a stand for holding a banjo.

, One of the objects of the invention is to provide a. stand for holding a banjo either in playing position or when resting on the floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand for holding a banjo in playing position so that the angular parts of the instrument will not tear the clothing of the player.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stand which may befolded into a compact package and carried in the pocket of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand which permits an adjustable positioning of the banjo on thelap of the player so that the neck may be raised or lowered to suit the preference of the player.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of our invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as we may adopt variations'of the preferred form within the scope of our invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stand.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the stand in folded form.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the stand showing the banjo mounted thereon.

In terms of broad inclusion, our invention comprises a stand for holding a musical instrument, preferably a banjo, on the knees of the player, in proper playing position, er, 0p tionally, on the floor or a table, when the instrument is not in use. The stand comprises a pair of supports, each of which includes a part adapted to rest upon a plane surface, such as the floor, and a part adapted to rest upon an irregular surface, such as the legs of the player. These parts of the supports are pivotally connected and means are pro vided for pivotally connecting the spaced supports, so that the entire device may be folded into a compact bundle. to adapt it to be carried in the pocket or instrument case. Each of the supports is also provided with preferably resilient jaws, adapted to engage parts of the banjo, so that the banjo is safely STAND.

1927. Serial No. 196,652.

retained withinthe stand, when the stand is set up for the purpose.

In terms of greater detail, our stand comprises spaced supports, each support comprising the legs 2 and 3 rigidly fixed to the substantially contacting resilient plates at and 5 at their upper ends, and spreading out at their lower ends to provide suitable floor engaging legs. The plate 4- is provided with an offset portion 7 forming a groove or seat in which a tie-bolt 8 of the banjo 9 is adapted to lie. To facilitate the entrance of the tie-bolt into its seat, the upper edges of the plates or jaws 4L and 5 are formed with diverging lips 11. The parts are so arranged that firm pressure of the bolt into the diverging lips 11 will seat the bolt between the jaws.

Each of the supports also includes the curved bars 12 and 13 connected to the legs 2 and 3, respectively, by the pivot pins 14L and 16. The opposite ends of the bars are connected on opposite sides of the link 17 by the pivot pin 18. In order to stiffen the support- .ing structure a crossbar 19 is secured across the curved bars adjacent their pivotal connection with the legs.

The parts just described comprise one-half of our stand and the two halves are connected by a pivot pin 21.

It will be noted that the curved bars 12 and 13 are so shaped as to conform approximately to the curve of the upper part of the leg of the player so that when the stand is set up and laid across the legs of the player, adjacent the knees, a suitable position is assured.

In Figure 2 we have shown the device folded into a compact form so that it may be placed in the instrument case or in the pocket.

Figure 3 shows the stand set up for use, with a banjo mounted therein, the whole being adapted to rest on a table or floor,'or optionally, on the knees of the player.

From the above it will be noted that by making a suitable selection of tie-bolts, the banjo may be positioned at varying distances above the knees, or the angular position of the neck may be varied in accordance with the preference of the player, and this without strain on the left arm of the player.

Our stand has another advantage in that it tends to improve the sitting position of the player, since he must maintain a proper posture in order to hold it and the instrument.

Our device, therefore, not only provides a convenient stand for supporting the banjo when not in use, but also materially eases the strain of playing, especially in concert, since it relieves the hands and arms to a very considerable extent from the effort to maintain the instrument in proper playlng pos1-- tion and permits the concentration of the player upon the interpretation of the music.

We claim:

1. A banjo stand comprising spaced sup ports, means connecting the supports, and substantially contacting resilient aws on each support for engaging parts of the banjo.

2. A banjo stand comprising spaced. sup ports including portions stably engageable with the floor, means connecting the supports, including portions engageable with the legs of the player and meanson each support for engaging parts of the banjo.

A banjo stand comprising spaced supports, each support coin nising floor en'gag ing legs and curved bars for engagii'ig a leg of the player, means pivotally connecting the supports, and means on the supports for engaging parts of the banjo.

4. A banjo stand comprising a floor engaging leg at each end of the stand, a curved bar for engaging a leg of the player pivoted to each floor engaging leg, means pivotally connecting the curved bars, and means on each leg for engaging a part of the banjo.

5. A banjo stand comprising a pair of spaced supports, and pivotally connected links joining said supports and adjustable to one position to form a stable stand and to another position to form a pocket-size article.

6. A banjo stand cou'iprising pivotally connected links, and a pair of supports pivotally connected to said links to form a stable stand when the links are extended, and to fold within said links when the stand is not in use.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

VELMA S. TRUETT. HARRY H. GEOIfl-HE. 

